Exhaust system



March 17, 1964 w. H. POWERS EXHAUST SYSTEM Filed March 20, 1959 w v? aINVENTOR. )4 d/Z er azaers.

/ JW Yz/S United States Patent O 3,124,930 EXHAUST SYSTEM Walter H.Powers, Jackson, Mich, assignor, by mesne assignments, to WalkerManufacturing Company, Racine, Wis, a corporation of Delaware Filed Mar.2:0, 1959, Ser. No. 800,670 1 Claim. (6i. 60-40) My invention relates tointernal combustion engines, and in particular to apparatus for burningunburned hydrocarbons found in the exhaust gases of internal combustionengines.

The aim of my invention is to provide a smog eliminating device whichwill be less expensive to install on an automobile than devices of thetype currently being considered.

Briefly, in accordance with my invention I provide an internalcombustion engine with a hydrocarbon burner that is located close to andpreferably in the exhaust manifold and which acts as a smog eliminator.Preferably, the pre-burner comprises a catalyst screen or element whichis attached to the gasket between the exhaust manifold and engine block.Thus, the gases leaving the cylinders will, while very hot, be incontact with the catalyst member. At the high temperatures available atthis point, it is possible to effectively remove a substantialpercentage of the unburned hydrocarbons.

By locating the burner in a position close to or within the manifold, Iutilize the available heat to burn the excess hydrocarbons and permitdownstream silencing of the exhaust gases to be carried out withoutspecial regard for smog elimination. Thus, optimum silencing can beobtained along with elimination of excessive hydrocarbons.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevation of a six cylinder internal combustionengine embodying the invention.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of the exhaust manifold showing the secondaryair harness attached to the exhaust manifold.

FIG. 3 is a section taken along the line 33 of FIG. 2, and

FIG. 4 is a section taken along the line 4-4 of FIG. 3.

The exhaust manifold 1 that is associated with the internal combustionengine 3 is entirely conventional in all respects. Thus, it has branchlines 5 which receive the exhaust gases from the outlet ports 6 of thecylinders of the engine and feed them into a common chamber 7 whichempties into the exhaust line 9. Each branch 5 3,124,930 Patented Mar.17, 1964 See terminates in a pad 11 which is bolted to the engine blockand has a flat face 13 hearing against a gasket 15.

In accordance with my invention I attach a catalytic element to eachgasket 15 so that gases flowing into the manifold will pass through orin contact with the element. The catalytic element in combination withthe high temperatures at the inlet to the exhaust manifold will cause amore complete combustion of the unburned hydrocarbons to occur in theexhaust manifold. While it is broadly within the scope of my inventionto use any suitable catalyst in any suitable form, I presently preferthat the catalytic element be the metal nickel in the form of a screencup 17. Each nickel screen cup 17 is preferably secured by a suitableretainer or by an interlock fit to a gasket 15 around the edge of theopening in the gasket. Thus, the combined gasket and catalyst can besupplied as an inexpensive, easily installed replacement part.

In the event that it is necessary for complete combustion, I providemeans for the introduction of secondary air to the branches 5 at pointsadjacent the screen 17, i.e. where combustion will occur. The air is fedinto the manifold sections 5 by branch lines 19 from a header 21. Air issupplied under pressure to header 21 by line 23 connected to the outletof an 'air pump 25 which is mounted on the side of the engine and drivenby the fan belt 27 of the engine. Broadly speaking, the air pump may beof any suitable type that is available on the open market and can eitherfurnish air at high pressure and low volume or at low pressure and highvolume.

I claim:

A smog reducing element comprising a gasket to fit between an exhaustmanifold and an engine and a catalytic element attached to the gasket.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,179,145 Southern Apr. 11, 1916 1,532,473 Byrne Apr. 7, 1925 1,690,080Seng et al Oct. 30, 1928 1,736,132 Rippingille Nov. 19, 1929 1,789,812.Frazer Jan. 20, 1931 2,004,865 Grison June 11, 1935 2,217,241 TendlerOct. 8, 1940 2,263,318 Tifft Nov. 18, 1941 2,503,289 Nettel Apr. 11,1950 FOREIGN PATENTS 38,371 France May 30, 1931 (Addition to No.691,110) 338,933 Great Britain Nov. 24, 1930

